Published: Thursday, 17th December, 2009 9:00am

No contact from Social Services, says Rachel

by Editorial Department

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Millie Martin.

Contrary to widespread reports - Social Services made NO CONTACT with little Millie Martin before her death, according to her grieving mother.

It has been reported in the media that little Millie who was killed last week in a 'horrific' attack in her home in Enniskillen, was known to Social Services in Fermanagh before her death.

But in an exclusive interview with the Impartial Reporter, Millie's mother Rachel says this is NOT the case.

The death of the little toddler has stunned and sickened an entire community, with many demanding answers into how and why it happened.

In a statement issued last weekend, Millie's family appealed for privacy, saying they were going through "unbearable grief", and stated that they "would not" be commenting further.

But Rachel and her family have chosen to speak out for the first and only time about the events of last week.

They have broken their silence to this newspaper to pay tribute to their little girl and correct what they say, are 'several inaccuracies' currently circulating in the public domain - including the extent of Millie's injuries.

"The social services didn't even know Millie, they have never seen her. They have never been to my door at all. Health visitors visited shortly after Millie was born, maybe a week after, but that was just routine - as expected after you give birth. But I have only seen a health visitor once since February," said Rachel.

Responding to the claim that social services were alerted to concerns about Millie's welfare before she died, Jim Wells, chairman of the Assembly's health committee called for an independent investigation into how the Western Health and Social Care Trust handled the case.

Also in our interview, Millie's family wanted to correct a number of "incorrect" reports in the press.

One inaccuracy was the claim that Millie's funeral will not be held until after Christmas, but the Impartial Reporter understands that this is also wrong. The funeral, we believe, will be held before then.

One newspaper suggested Millie had suffered a 'broken back' in the attack. Other media outlets then repeated the claim which has caused the family much distress; "She never had a broken back, that is completely incorrect. We asked the top investigator who told us the state of Millie's injuries. There was no blood in the room of the house, which was also reported and was wrong," said Rachel.

"My stomach is sick to the core, I haven't eaten since it happened. I can't eat, I can't think. I am completely empty at the minute. I just don't know what's going in my head. It's just not real," she said.